Begging for a Second Chance

Hi again. Word of advice oh readers. Never drink a high caffeine drink a few hours before you wish to go to bed. It is not exactly a wise decision. But luckily for you, it means I am going to write an update. Thanks to Claidi Shoru and Rembrandt for your reviews. I appreciate it greatly!

HecateMagik

Chapter 2

Everybody knows that I was such a fool…

Fall 1998

"Is anybody there?" Harry Potter banged on the Gryffindor girl dormitory door. He wasn't terribly surprised with no response. It was two o'clock in the afternoon during a school day. What sane girl would be actually in her room instead of classes? What sane girl would actually open the door to the Head Boy when they should actually be in classes?

You know who you wished was in there, Potter. You thought you caught a glimpse of red hair flash through the common room not to long ago. Wishful thinking on your part.

Ginny Weasley wasn't exactly avoiding him. It just appeared she was. Every time he approached her in the Great Hall, she usually had to get to class or to the library or to a teacher's office. She never talked to him alone anymore. What did he expect?

You told her that you would both be better off alone. That it would be too difficult dealing with Voldermort and having a relationship with her.

He was such an idiot. He just didn't want her to get hurt. Apparently anyone who got to close to him ended up dead. Why let her risk her life for him? He wasn't exactly sure how much of a future he actually had. According to the prophecy, both could not survive while the other lived. Harry had been doing many interpretations, but he had a sick feeling that it might end up being both of them couldn't survive at all. He just didn't want her to be hurt.

He walked over to the fireplace where he had his last few conversations with Sirius Black, his godfather. Harry eased down into the comfortably stuffed chair and leaned his head back. If only he could talk to Sirius now. He never had anyone in his life that he could confide with. Sure Ron Weasley was always there for him, but how do you talk to your best bud about problems regarding his best bud's younger sister? There are some things that you can't talk about. No matter how brilliant Hermione Granger was, she was still a girl. Girls didn't understand what guys felt like inside. He had the sick feeling that she would feel the need to hit him. How can girls understand the need guys felt to protect the ones they loved? Sure, he knew Ginny was a capable witch. But that didn't mean he should be selfish and make her stay with a lost cause.

He stared into the empty fireplace. Sirius represented the parents he never had. Harry curled his legs under his black school cloak. Sirius had been the link to James and Lily Potter that Harry had desired for so long. He had known them the way Harry had been unable to. He had laughed with them. He had cried with them. He had been able to ask them some of the questions that Harry would never be able to.

Harry stared blankly ahead that he didn't notice the flash of red hair that went out the portrait hole. He felt like the biggest fool and deeply alone.

Fall 1977

James Potter walked quickly down the steps from the male dormitory to the Gryffindor common room while whistling a song under his breath. It was the middle of the afternoon and there was no one in the main living space. He approached the portrait hole of the fat lady that would lead him into the main hallways of the school when he heard a gasp behind him.

He turned sharply, the flaps of his deep black robes snapping with his body. James' hand was already reaching for his wand when he paused. It was just Lily. She was curled up in one of the overstuffed armchairs in front of the fireplace. Her eyes were staring blankly in front her.

"Lily?"

She closed her eyes and curled up tighter.

"Lily, what's wrong?" James walked in front of the chair and kneeled down.

Lily mumbled something inaudible.

He placed a hand on hers. "Tell me."

She looked up into his concerned face. His dark black hair was in his usual disarray. His grey eyes were filled with concern. His smile appeared strained. "I can't…" she began softly, "I can't go home with you."

He furrowed his brow. "Why is that?"

Her bottle glass green eyes were wet with tears. "I don't belong there."

"What nonsense is this? Of course you belong there." James was confused. It made perfect sense to him. Why should Lily wander around the empty halls of Hogwarts over the winter holiday when his mum was urging him to bring home students? Sirius was already a member of the family, and his mum was dying to meet the young woman that had stolen her baby's heart. Lily and he had been dating for almost a year, and every time James thought of his gifted girl he smiled. She was the one of a few things that actually made the last year worth living. With the increased terror brewing from the rise of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, living was a scary thing. Death-Eaters were popping out of every corner, ready to take out as many Muggle born witches and wizards as possible. "Tell me what is really bothering you, Lil?"

"I am going to die." She sniffled.

"Excuse me?"

She sat up. "James. It's only a matter of time before they find me. I am a Mudblood…"

"Don't you dare call yourself that, Lillian Evans!" James gripped her hand. "You are the best and brightest our year has to offer the wizarding world when we graduate. You have top O.W.L scores, and you are going to beat the hell out of the N.E.W.T.'s. You are Head Girl! Stop speaking foolishness." He rushed the word out. But he slowed down for the most important part, "You are the kindest, sweetest, most exceptional person in this entire building. You are more than a dirty word 1st years mumble."

"He doesn't care about that. He just wants to kill. I will be killed. I can't be apart of your life anymore. I can't be apart of anyone's lives anymore."

James felt his heart drop into his lower intestines. "What are you trying to say? Are you breaking up with me?"

Lily bit her lip as she nodded.

"No… no"

She pried his hand off of hers. "Yes, James." She jumped up and moved passed him.

Lily walked as fast to the steps to the girls' dormitory.

"Lily, no"

She walked up the steps and opened the door without looking back. She felt her heart shatter into a million different pieces.

She was such a fool. But he wouldn't be hurt.